Carpet-sweeper.



PATENTED MAR. 10, 1903.

J. w. sYKEs. I CARPET SWEEPBR.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 17, 1902.

a slums-sum 1.

:I0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSHUA W. SYKES, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

CARPET-SWEEPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 722,642, dated March10, 1903. Application filed January 1'7, 1902. Serial No. 90,179. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom, it Wtay concern:

Be it known that I, JOSHUA W. SYKEs, a citizen of the United States,residing. at Detroit, county of Wayne, State of Michigan, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Carpet-Sweepers; and I declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to certain novel features in carpet-sweepers; andit consists of the construction, combination, and arrange ment ofdevices hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a vertical cross-sectionshowing features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail view in verticalcross-section showing parts of the invention. Fig. 3 is an end elevationof a sweeper, parts being in vertical section. Fig. 4 is a detail viewshowing the method of engaging the handle in the socket of the bail.Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the roller-bearing. Fig. 6 is a detailview showing a preferred construction of the rim of the wheels. Fig. 7is a detail view of the slotted springarm. Fig. 8 isa detail view of theclamping device 8. Fig. 9 is a plan view of my improved sweeper,'theupper portion of the case being removed.

The object of my invention is to provide a carpet-sweeper of superiorefficiency, simplicity, and utility, and I carry out myinvention asfollows.

In the drawings the sweeper-case is indicated at a, constructed of anysuitable form or style, the same being preferably provided with a lid bat the top, hinged, as indicated at c, to a top portion of the case.

The operating-handle is indicated at d, jointedly connected to the casein any suitable manner, as by intervening ears e, attached to the endsof the case. The ends of the case are preferably slotted at their loweredges, as indicated at f, to permit the rotary broom 9 being readilyengaged in proper position. The ends of the case are also constructedwith openings h h on opposite sides of the broom, through which thecorresponding axis 2 is passed for carrying the driving-wheels 3'.

To hold the rotary broom in position, my present invention contemplatesthe employment of a spring-arm 70, secured to each end of the case. Eachof the spring-arms is constructed with a downwardly-projecting portion Zand laterally-projecting spring-arms m m, the ends of the arms beinglooped, as indicated at it, through which a rivet or analo gous devicemay secure the device to the cor responding end of the case. tremity ofthe portion Z is constructed with an elongated slot 19, corrugated atthe lateral edges thereof, the faces of said lower portion being alsopreferably corrugated, as indicated at q. A trunnion r is passed throughthe slot 19 to engage and support the corresponding end of thebroom-shaft. Upon the outer end of the trunnion there is preferablylocated also a washer s, corrugated on its in ner face to mesh with thecorrugation q upon the outer face of the portion Z of the springarm, asindicated more particularly in Fig. 5. A nut 25 is engaged upon theouter end of the trunnion to secure the trunnion in position. On theinner end of each trunnion I prefer to locate a roller-bearing a, whichmay be held in place by a screw 1;, the'roller-bearing projecting into asuitable recess w in the corresponding end of the broom-shaft. Thepivotal ends of the bail 00 with which the handle at is connected aremade cam-shaped, as indicated at y, and bear upon the upper surfaces ofthe spring-arms m m, as indicated more particularly in Fig. 3, the cambeing of such shape that when the handle is thrown over on one side ofthe case of the sweeper the lower portions Z of said spring-arms will bedepressed by the action of the cam thereupon to force the rotatablebroom into firmer contact with the carpet, while the cam is also soshaped that when the handle is thrown over to the other side of the casethe broom may rise to normal position or so as to have a lighter contactwith the carpet, the two positions of the handle effecting a hard orlight pressure of the broom upon the carpet, as may be desired fordifferent kinds of carpet. This difference of result in the action ofthe broom is readily produced without the necessity of changinganyadjustment. However,

The lower ex- I oo the elongated slot 13 in the lower extremity of theportion Z in each of the spring-arms permits a ready vertical adjustmentof the broom-shaft in said arms as may be required.

To carry the axes as of the driving-wheels j, I provide aconnecting-rod, (indicated at the numeral 1,) provided at itsextremities -with links 2 2, supporting the corresponding axis a at itslower end and jointedly connect ed at their upper ends with theconnectingrod 1, as indicated at 3. The lower ends of theconnecting-links 2 2 converge, as indicated in Fig. 1. Theconnecting-rod 1 is ,formed with an elongated slot 6 intermediate itsends, said connecting-rod preferably passing through a clip 5, securedto the corresponding end of the case to permit the vertical movement ofthe rod in order that the rod may move vertically. A spring 7 exeris itstension upon the rod 1, its extremity bearing against the closed lid b.The spring 7 is secured to the adjacent end of the case, as by pins 23.A screw 4 may pass through said clip into the elongated slot 6 of therod. The drive-wheels are arranged to drive the broom by friction in thecustomary manner, and it will be apparent that a spring tension upon therod 1 tends to force the lower ends of the connecting-arms 2 closertogether, thereby bringing the wheels into closer contact with the broomfriction-roller, producing increased friction to drive the broom.

The lid 1) of the case is provided with a clamping device 8, preferablyhinged to the case, as indicated at 9, the clamping device beingconstructed to engage the handle 01 when the lid is opened to hold thelid in open position when the case is to be emptied of its contents. Byhinging the clamping device 8 it may be folded down when notin use; butI do not limit myself solely thereto, as it may be rigidly engaged withthe lid within the scope of my invention.

The dust-pan is indicated at 10 10. As shown in Fig. 2, a feature of myinvention consists in kerfing the case, as indicated at 11, to receive aflange 12 of the dust-pan and to support the adjacent edge of the pan inthe case. At the inner edges of each of the dust-pans 10 I ldoate astrip of wood 23, preferably triangular in cross-section, to which theadjacent edges of the corresponding dustpan is secured. The forward edgeof the corresponding dust-pan is preferably bent upward and over, asindicatedin Fig. 1, against the upper faces of the corresponding strip23, forming a recess or loop between the adjaoent portions thereof,(indicated at 13,) into which recess is engaged a carrier-plate 14. Theplates let may be held in place byv nails or tacks 24:, driven into theadjacent wooden strip 23. The inner edge of each dust-pan being thusbent upward and over, forming thereby a loop to receive the upper edgeof the carrier-plate 14., forms a very convenient method of engagingsaid plate in place.

The'sooket of the'bails is indicated at 15, and the handle 61 ispreferably engaged therewith by a bayonet-joint, as indicated at 16,Fig. 4. To this end the socket is formed with a longitudinal opening(indicated at 17) and with a laterally extended communicating opening18, through which a screw 19 maybe passed, the lateral edges of theopening 18 being preferably corrugated, as shown.

I prefer to construct the rim of the wheels 3' with a recess 20 toretain the rubber tire, the periphery of the rim being also constructedwith a series of additional recesses 21, forming a suction to hold therubber tire 22 in place upon the wheel.

It will be understood that a rod 1 and the links 2 are located at bothends of the casing.

In Fig. 1 one of the rods 1 and links 2 are shown in full lines at oneend of the casing. In Fig. 3 is -indicated in dotted lines a rod 1 andlinks 2 at the opposite end of the casing.

The opening h is of sufficient size to admit of the play of the axle ztherein.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a carpet-sweeper, the combinationof a case, the driving-wheels, a vertically-mov: able connecting rod,links supporting the d rive-wheels at their lower ends, and jointedlyconnected with said connecting-rod toward opposite extremities thereof,and a spring exerting its tension upon said connecting-rod, said linksconverging toward their lower ends, as set forth.

2. In a carpet-sweeper, the combination of a case, the drive-wheels, avertically-slotted connecting-rod, links supporting the drivewheels attheir lower ends, and jointedly connected at their upper ends with saidconnecting-rod toward opposite extremities thereof, a spring exertingits tension upon said connecting-rod, and means to engage the rod withthe case, substantially as set forth.

8. In a carpet-sweeper, the combination of a case, the driving-wheels, avertically-movable connecting rod, links supporting the driving-wheelsat their lower ends and jointedly connected with said connecting-rodtoward opposite extremities thereof, a spring exerting its tension uponsaid connectingrod, said links converging toward their lower ends, asset forth, spring-arms to support the,

broom and a handle bearing upon said arms constructed to depress saidarms.

4. In a carpet-sweeper the combination of a case, the driving-wheels, avertically-movable rod, links supporting the driving-wheels at theirlower ends and jointedly connected with said rod toward oppositeextremities thereof, a vertically-movable spring-arm provided with anelongated slot at its lower end, a rotatable broom having an adjustableengagement in said slot, and a handle arranged to bear upon thespring-arm with different tensions when the handle is thrown over toopposite sides of the case.

5. In a carpet-sweeper, the combination of a case, the driving-wheels avertically-movable connecting-rod, links supporting the drive-wheels attheir lower ends, and jointedly connected with the connecting-rod towardopposite extremities thereof, a spring exerting its tension upon saidconnectingrod, said links converging toward their lower ends, as setforth, spring-arms to support the broom, a trunnion engaged in saidarms, a roller-bearing on the inner end of the trunnion, and abroom-shaft recessed to receive the roller-bearing.

6. In a carpet-sweeper, the combination of a case, a spring-arm providedwith an elongated slot in which the broom has an adjustable engagement,and having one face thereof corrugated adjacent to said slot, 2. trun-'nion passed through said slot to support the broom-shaft in said arm, acorrugated washer to mesh with the corrugated surface of the arm, andmeans to hold the washer and trunnion in place, substantially as setforth.

7. In a carpet-sweeper, the combination of a case provided with a lid, ahandle, and a clamp supported on the lid to engage the handle to holdthe lid in open position, as set forth. 8. In a carpet-sweeper, thecombination of a case formed with a lid, a handle, and a clamp hinged tothe lid to engage the handle to hold the lid in open position, as setforth.

9. In a carpet-sweeper, the combination of a case, a rotatable broom,spring-arms provided with laterally-extended portions engaged with thecase, and with a downwardlyprojecting portion to support the broomshaft,and a handle arranged to exert a tension upon said spring-arms, for thepurpose set forth.

10. In a carpet-sweeper, the combination of a case, and a dust-pan, saiddustpan provided with a flange, and said case kerfed to receive saidflange to support the pan in the case, as set forth.

11. In a carpet-sweeper, the combination of a dust-pan, a transversewooden strip toward one edge thereof, a carrier-plate, one edge of saiddust-pan formed with a loop adjacent to the front face of the strip toreceive the upper edge of said plate, and means to hold the plate in theloop, as set forth.

12. In a carpet-sweeper the combination of a case, driving-wheels, avertically-movable connecting rod, and links supporting thedriving-wheels at their lower ends and connected with said rod towardtheir upper ends, said links converging toward each other at their lowerends.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of twowitnesses.

JOSHUA W. SYKES.

Witnesses:

N. S. WRIGHT, J. M. POLAND.

